Poster Abstracts

Name/Affiliation:  John Gizis (University of Delaware)

Title:  The nature of variability in early L dwarfs

Abstract:
The M/L transition features the onset of dust formation, a change on character in magnetic activity, and the hydrogen-burning limit. I report on Kepler and Spitzer observations of a nearby L1 dwarf. Starspots, clouds, and aurorae have all been proposed as causes of variability in early L dwarfs; I show how the space and ground-based observations constrain and rule out many scenarios. Besides the periodic variations, white light flares are detected, and I discuss the importance of flares in the magnetic energy budget.